What Can 
You Still Get 
For A Buck? 
Mart And Wal-mart May Have Muscled Woolworth's Off Main Street Here. But As Of 
Yet, It's Not A Clean Win.

5a 
Children's Agency Sets $55,000 Goal

By LISA SCHEID; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau Chief
 Saturday, January 15, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: PERMANENT HOMELESS
SHELTER PLANNED FOR HAZLETION 





HAZLETON -- The Luzerne County commissioners have proposed giving
Hazleton's Salvation Army $200,000 to create Lower Luzerne County's first
permanent homeless shelter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The money -- combined with $550,000 being raised by the Salvation Army --
would be used for purchase of the army's new West Broad Street building and
conversion of the building's third floor into a family-size apartment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The first and second floors would be renovated to include four classrooms,
a kitchen, a meal service area, a walk-in freezer and a food pantry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Hazleton shelter would be used by fire or eviction victims or poor
families who need help becoming self-sufficient, said Sandra Russell, county
assistant director for community development. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The project could be completed as early as 10 months after the money is
raised, Hazleton social service officials have said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The money Luzerne County has proposed allocating is part of the county's
$7.2 million in community development grants. The grants are federal money
funneled through counties and municipalities to improve the housing and
economy of low-income areas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Greater Hazleton United Way Director Michael Harris said the community
needs a shelter and better service facility. He said his agency has been
working for a shelter for five years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Harris declined to speak at length about the county allocation until it is
final after a public comment period that ends Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, he said, with an average wage of $16,000 a year and 10 percent
unemployment, the number of Hazleton residents who need help is growing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For example, in 1990 the Salvation Army reported 38,838 contacts with area
residents in the form of meals, family visits and other outreach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By 1992, the number of contacts had increased 23 percent to 47,964. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More than 300 people needed emergency shelter in 1992, city statistics
showed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the long run, a permanent shelter will cost less than hotel rooms, which
social service agencies rent in emergencies to house the homeless, Harris
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Salvation Army officials could not be reached Friday for comment. The
Salvation Army already has raised a little more than $300,000 for the project. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Last year, the city of Hazleton applied for a grant from the state
Department of Community Affairs for the shelter project but was turned down. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the Hazleton area, county officials also have proposed using community
development money to: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Solve a storm water drainage problem in Conyngham borough at Main Street
and Sugarloaf Avenue ($19,000) and make improvements to Main Street ($80,000). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Renovate Hazle Township's municipal building to make it accessible to the
disabled ($10,000). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Conduct sewer studies in the Woodside, Highlands, Youngstown and Drifton
sections of Foster Township (amount undetermined).

Permanent Homeless Shelter Planned For Hazleton 
A Building On West Broad Street May Serve To House Fire Or Eviction Victims Or 
Poor Families Needing Help

Permanent Homeless Shelter Planned For Hazleton A Building On West Broad Street May Serve To House Fire Or Eviction Victims Or Poor Families Needing Help